Methods and systems for authentications and online transactions

ABSTRACT

A method and system for online authentication and payment are disclosed. The method includes collecting facial data of a user in real time, the user being associated with a user account; comparing the collected facial data with facial data associated with the user account; and receiving data related to a purchase order, the purchase order data including a payment account number and a payment amount. The method further includes sending the purchase order data to a payment module and making, by the payment module, a payment based on the purchase order data. The method and system consistent with the present disclosure may authenticate a user before conducting an online transaction and improve the user experience in conducting online transactions.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Related Applications

This application is a continuation application of PCT Patent ApplicationNo. PCT/CN2014/080531, filed on Jun. 23, 2014, which is based upon andclaims the benefit of priority from Chinese Patent Application No.201310530498.8, filed on Oct. 31, 2013, the entire contents of both ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to Internet technologies and, moreparticularly, to methods and systems for authenticating users and makingpayments online.

BACKGROUND

Many businesses, such as stores, supermarkets, recreational centers, setup membership programs for its customers. A member of a certain customerclub may receive membership benefits such as discounts on purchases. Asa result, such clubs encourage its members to make more purchases.Often, when a member is making a purchase, he may need to enter amembership number before he makes a payment so that he can receive thecredit for the purchase (e.g., membership points). This process ofentering the membership information at the time of transaction may makethe operation tedious and inefficient.

The disclosed method and system are directed to solve one or moreproblems set forth above and other problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure provide a method,system, mobile device, or a server for authenticating users and makingpayments online. Embodiments consistent with the present disclosureenable instant messaging users to complete business transactionsefficiently.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for onlineauthentication and payment. The method includes collecting facial dataof a user in real time, the user being associated with a user account;comparing the collected facial data with facial data associated with theuser account; and receiving data related to a purchase order, thepurchase order data including a payment account number and a paymentamount. The method further includes sending the purchase order data to apayment module and making, by the payment module, a payment based on thepurchase order data. The method and system consistent with the presentdisclosure may authenticate a user before conducting an onlinetransaction and improve the user experience in conducting onlinetransactions.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for onlineauthentication and payment. The method may include collecting facialdata of a user in real time, the user being associated with a useraccount; comparing the collected facial data with facial data associatedwith the user account; receiving data related to a purchase order, thepurchase order data including a payment account number and a paymentamount; and making a payment based on the purchase order data.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a system for onlineauthentication and payment. The system may include an authenticationplatform configured to collect facial data of a user in real time, theuser being associated with a user account; compare the collected facialdata with facial data associated with the user account; receive datarelated to a purchase order, the purchase order data including a paymentaccount number and a payment amount; and send the purchase order data.The system may also include a payment module configured to receive thepurchase order data and make a payment based on the purchase order data.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a system for onlineauthentication and payment. The system may include a collection unitconfigured to collect facial data of a user in real time, the user beingassociated with a user account; a comparing unit configured to comparethe collected facial data with facial data associated with the useraccount; a receiving unit configured to receive data related to apurchase order, the purchase order data including a payment accountnumber and a payment amount; and a sending unit configured to send thepurchase order data to a payment platform.

Other aspects of the present disclosure can be understood by thoseskilled in the art in light of the description, the claims, and thedrawings of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To illustrate embodiments of the invention, the following are a fewdrawings illustrating embodiments consistent with the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method for authenticating user and makingpayment online implemented by an exemplary embodiment consistent withthe present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary user interface for entering a purchase orderthrough an online authentication platform implemented by an exemplaryembodiment consistent with the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is another flowchart of a method for authenticating user andmaking payment online implemented by an exemplary embodiment consistentwith the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary server for an online authentication platformconsistent with the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is another exemplary server for an online authentication platformconsistent with the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is an exemplary system for making online payments consistent withthe present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of theinvention, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.Hereinafter, embodiments consistent with the disclosure will bedescribed with reference to drawings. Wherever possible, the samereference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to thesame or like parts. It is apparent that the described embodiments aresome but not all of the embodiments of the present invention. Based onthe disclosed embodiment, persons of ordinary skill in the art mayderive other embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, all ofwhich are within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of a method for authenticating users andmaking online payments implemented by embodiments consistent with thepresent disclosure. Embodiments consistent with the present disclosuremay be used in supermarkets, shopping malls, or recreational centers toconduct business transactions. The online authentication platformsconsistent with the present disclosure may further be connected to oneor more payment platforms. The method shown in FIG. 1 includes stepsS101-S104.

In step S101, the server of the online authentication platform maycollect a user's facial data. The facial data may be data related to theuser's facial profile, facial expressions, etc. Certain biometric data,such as data related to a person's fingerprints or iris, are unique tothe person. It is also difficult to duplicate such biometric data. As aresult, it is advantageous to use biometric data to authenticate theidentity of a user. In embodiments consistent with the presentdisclosure, the online authentication platform may include an externalcamera and other data collect devices. As an example, the onlineauthentication platform may collect facial data using the externalcamera.

In step S102, the server of the online authentication platform maycompare the user facial data with the facial data associated with theuser's account. If the facial data match, the online authenticationplatform may prompt the user to enter the data for a purchase order. Inembodiments consistent with the present disclosure, the server of theonline authentication platform may store the facial data associated withthe user accounts. The online authentication platform may compare theuser facial data with the facial data associated with the user'saccount, which are stored on the server. If the facial data match, theonline authentication platform may prompt the user to enter the data fora purchase order. Alternatively, the facial data associated with useraccounts may be stored in other servers connected to the server of theonline authentication platform. In that case, the online authenticationplatform may compare the user facial data with the facial dataassociated with the user's account, which are stored in other serversconnected to the online authentication platform. If the facial datamatch, the online authentication platform may prompt the user to enterthe data for an order.

As shown in FIG. 2, the online authentication platform may use a textinterface to prompt a user to enter the purchase order. Alternatively,the online authentication platform may use a text and voice combinedinterface to prompt the user to enter the order by text or audio input.In embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, if the facialdata collected by the online authentication platform do not match thefacial data associated with the user account, the online platform mayshow that the authentication process failed, and stop furthertransaction. In other embodiments, the online platform may show that theauthentication process failed, and the user may not receive benefitssuch as discounts or promotional prices associated with a customer clubmembership.

In step S103, the server of the online authentication platform mayreceive the data related to the purchase order from the user. The orderdata may include a payment account number and a payment amount. Further,the order data may include data related to the goods or services beingordered and other data. In step S104, the server of the onlineauthentication platform may send the received order data to theconnected payment platform server. Embodiments consistent with thepresent disclosure may then complete the payment process. The server ofthe payment platform, based on the purchase order data, may deduct thepayment amount from the specified payment account. Both the paymentamount and the payment account number may be included in the purchaseorder data. The server of the payment platform may further post thepayment amount to a payment receiving account. The payment receivingaccount may be identified by the server of the authentication platform.That is, when a user is registering with the authentication/paymentplatform, the server of the authentication platform may associate theuser account to one or more payment receiving accounts. The server ofthe payment platform may store the data related to the payment receivingaccounts.

In some embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, as shown inFIG. 1, after the server of the authentication platform compares thecollected facial data to facial data associated with the user's account,before the server prompts the user to enter data for a purchase order,the server may prompt the user to input fingerprint data. The server maythen receive the fingerprint data. The server of online authenticationplatform may compare the fingerprint data with the fingerprint dataassociated with the user's account. If the fingerprint data match, theonline authentication platform may prompt the user to enter the data fora purchase order. By collecting fingerprint data and authenticating theuser using the fingerprint data, embodiments consistent with the presentdisclosure may authenticate user identities and prevent false claims ofcustomer identity.

In some embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, beforeexecuting step S101, the server of the authentication platform mayimplement the following steps. First, the server of the authenticationplatform may receive a request for a user registration. Second, theserver may collect biometric data of the user, such as facial data,fingerprint data, etc. Third, in response to the request forregistration, the server may generate a user account for the user.Fourth, the server may associate the collected biometric data, such asthe facial data, the fingerprint data, etc., with the user's account.Finally, the server may send a message to the user indicating theregistration is complete. Embodiments consistent with the presentdisclosure may execute these steps, collect user biometric data duringthe user registration process, and associate the collected biometricdata to the user's account. Embodiments consistent with the presentdisclosure may thus collect data for the subsequent user authenticationprocess.

In some embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, whenimplementing the method as shown in FIG. 1, the server for theauthentication platform may implement the following process aftersending the purchase order data to the payment platform. First, theserver of the authentication platform may obtain a past payment total ofthe user account. Second, the server of the authentication platform maydetermine a discount rate based on the past payment total amount. Forexample, if one user has past payments totaling to $10,000-$20,000, theserver may determine that the discount rate may be 50%; and if one userhas past payments totaling to $5,000-$10,000, the server may determinethat the discount may be 80%. Third, the server of the authenticationplatform may send the determined discount to the server of the paymentplatform. The server of the payment platform may then apply the discountto the purchase order. Embodiments consistent with the presentdisclosure may therefore apply discounts to qualified purchases andencourage users to make purchases.

As shown in FIG. 1, embodiments consistent with the present disclosuremay simplify the process for entering user account number and performthe online payment operations. Further, embodiments consistent with thepresent disclosure may be used in stores, shopping malls, andrecreational centers that do not have staff for authenticating customersor receiving payments. Embodiments consistent with the presentdisclosure may relieve staff from manually receiving purchase orders andmaking payments. Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure maythus improve user experience for online purchases.

FIG. 3 shows another exemplary flow chart of a method for online paymentimplemented by embodiments consistent with the present disclosure. Asshown in FIG. 3, the method may be implemented by a server of theauthentication platform and a server of the payment platform.Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure may be used insupermarkets, shopping malls, or recreational centers. The onlineauthentication platforms consistent with the present disclosure mayfurther be connected to one or more payment platforms. The method shownin FIG. 3 includes steps S301-S315.

In step S301, the server of the authentication platform may receive auser registration request. In step S302, the server may collectbiometric data of the user, such as facial data, fingerprint data, etc.In step S303, in response to the request for registration, the servermay generate a user account for the user. In step S304, the server mayassociate the collected biometric data, such as the facial data, thefingerprint data, etc., with the user's account. In step S305, theserver may send a message to the user indicating the registration iscomplete. Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure may executesteps S301-S305, collect user biometric data during the userregistration process, and associate the collected biometric data to theuser's account. Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure maythus collect data for the subsequent user authentication process.Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure may further store theuser's biometric data, and the data related to the association of thebiometric data with the user account in a membership database.

In step S306, the server of the online authentication platformconsistent with the present disclosure may collect a user's facial data.The facial data may be data related to the user's facial profile, facialexpressions, etc. Certain biometric data, such as data related tofingerprints, iris, are unique to a person. It is also difficult toduplicate such biometric data. As a result, it is advantageous to usebiometric data to authenticate the identity of a user. In embodimentsconsistent with the present disclosure, the online authenticationplatform may include an external camera. The online authenticationplatform may collect facial data using the external camera.

In step S307, the server of online authentication platform may comparethe user facial data with the facial data associated with the user'saccount. If the facial data match, the online authentication platformmay prompt the user to enter the fingerprint data. In embodimentsconsistent with the present disclosure, if the facial data collected bythe online authentication platform do not match the facial dataassociated with the user account, the online platform may show that theauthentication process failed, and stop any further transaction. Inother embodiments, the online platform may show that the authenticationprocess failed, and the user may not receive benefits such as discountsor promotional prices.

In step S308, the server may receive the user's fingerprint data. Instep S309, the server of online authentication platform may compare thefingerprint data with the fingerprint data associated with the user'saccount. If the fingerprint data match, the online authenticationplatform may prompt the user to enter the data for a purchase order. Bycollecting fingerprint data and authenticating the user using the fingerprint data, embodiments consistent with the present disclosure mayauthenticate user identities and prevent false claims of customeridentities. In embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, ifthe fingerprint data collected by the online authentication platform donot match the fingerprint data associated with the user account, theonline platform may show that the authentication process failed, andstop further transaction. In other embodiments, the online platform mayshow that the authentication process failed, and the user may notreceive benefits such as discounts or promotional prices.

In embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, the server of theonline authentication platform may store the facial data associated withuser accounts. The online authentication platform may compare the userfacial data with the facial data associated with the user's account,which are stored on the server. If the facial data match, the onlineauthentication platform may prompt the user to enter the data for apurchase order. Alternatively, the facial data associated with useraccounts may be stored in other servers connected to the server of theonline authentication platform. The online authentication platform maycompare the user facial data with the facial data associated with theuser's account, which are stored on other servers connected to theonline authentication platform. If the facial data match, the onlineauthentication platform may prompt the user to enter the data for anorder.

As shown in FIG. 2, the online authentication platform may use textinterface to prompt user to enter the order. Alternatively, the onlineauthentication platform may use a text and voice combined interface toprompt the user to enter the purchase order.

In step S310, the server of the online authentication platform mayreceive the data related to the order from the user. The order data mayinclude a payment account number, and a payment amount. Further, theorder data may include data related to the goods being ordered and otherdata. In step S311, the server of the online authentication platform maysend the received order data to the connected payment platform server.In step S312, the server of the authentication platform may obtain pastpayment total of the user account. In step S313, the server of theauthentication platform may determine a discount rate based on the pastpayment total. For example, if one user has a past payment total of$10,000-$20,000, the server may determine that the discount may be 50%;and if one user has a past payment total of $5,000-$10,000, the servermay determine that the discount may be 80%. In step S314, the server ofthe authentication platform may send the determined discount to theserver of the payment platform. In step S315, the server of the paymentplatform may then apply the discount to the purchase order. Embodimentsconsistent with the present disclosure may therefore apply discounts toqualified purchases and encourage users to make more purchases.

As shown in FIG. 3, embodiments consistent with the present disclosuremay simplify the process for entering user account number and performthe online payment operations. Further, embodiments consistent with thepresent disclosure may be used in stores, shopping malls, andrecreational centers that do not have staff for authenticating customersor receiving payments. Embodiments consistent with the presentdisclosure may relieve staff from manually receiving purchase orders andmaking payments. Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure maythus improve user experience for online purchases.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a server of the authenticationplatform consistent with the present disclosure. Embodiments consistentwith the present disclosure may be used in supermarkets, shopping malls,or recreational centers. The online authentication platforms consistentwith the present disclosure may further be connected to one or morepayment platforms. As shown in FIG. 4, the server 400 of theauthentication platform may include a collection unit 401, a comparingunit 401, a prompting unit 403, a receiving unit 404, and a sending unit405. The collection unit 401 may collect a user's facial data. Thecomparing unit 402 may compare the collected facial data with the facialdata associated with the user account. The prompting unit 403 may promptthe user to enter data for the purchase order if the collected facialdata match the facial data associated with the user account. Thereceiving unit 404 may receive the purchase order data. The purchaseorder data may include a payment account number and a payment amount.The sending unit 405 may send the purchase order data to the paymentplatform. The payment platform may then make the payment based on thepurchase order data.

Further, the prompting unit 403 may also prompt the user to enterfingerprint data after the comparing unit 402 determines that thecollected facial data match the facial data associated with the useraccount. The receiving unit 404 may then receive the fingerprint data.The comparing unit 402 may then compare the collected fingerprint datato the fingerprint data associated with the user account. If thefingerprint data match, then the prompting unit 403 may prompt the userto enter data for the purchase order.

In addition, the server 400 of the authentication platform shown in FIG.4 may include an assigning unit 406 and a storing unit 407. The server400 of the authentication platform may receive a request for a userregistration. In response to the request for registration, the assigningunit 406 may generate and assign a user account to the user. The storingunit 407 may store the data associating the biometric data collected bycollection unit 401, such as the facial data, the finger print data,etc., to the user's account assigned by assigning unit 406. Thereafter,the prompting unit 403 may send a message to the user indicating theregistration is complete. In this embodiment, the comparing unit 402 maycompare the facial data collected by collection unit 401 to the facialdata associated with the user account to determine whether they match.

Moreover, the server 400 of the authentication platform shown in FIG. 4may include an obtaining unit 409 and a recognition unit 410. Theobtaining unit 409 may obtain the payments of the user account after thesending unit 405 sends the purchase order data to the payment platform.The recognition unit 410 may recognize the total of the user account'spast payments and determine a discount for the past payment totalamount. The sending unit 405 may send the discount determined by therecognition unit 410 to the payment platform so that the paymentplatform may apply the discount to the payment.

As shown in FIG. 4, embodiments consistent with the present disclosuremay simplify the process for entering user account number and performthe online payment operations. Further, embodiments consistent with thepresent disclosure may be used in stores, shopping malls, andrecreational centers that do not have staff for authenticating customersor receiving payments. Embodiments consistent with the presentdisclosure may relieve staff from manually receiving purchase orders andmaking payments. Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure maythus improve user experience for online purchases.

FIG. 5 is another schematic diagram of a server of the authenticationplatform consistent with the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5, theserver 500 of the authentication platform may include a processor 501,such as a CPU, a network connection 504, a user interface 503, storagemedium 505, and a bus 502. Processor 501 may include any appropriateprocessor or processors. Further, processor 501 can include multiplecores for multi-thread or parallel processing. Storage medium 505 mayinclude memory modules, such as Read-only Memory (ROM), Random AccessMemory (RAM), flash memory modules, and erasable and rewritable memory,and mass storages, such as CD-ROM, U-disk, and hard disk, etc. Storagemedium 505 may store computer programs for implementing variousprocesses, when executed by processor 501, including the operatingsystem, communication program modules, and other application modulesused to implement the system for online authentication and paymentconsistent with the present disclosure. The network connection 504 mayconnect to any appropriate type of communication networks, including theInternet, LAN (Local Area Network), or other types of computer networksor telecommunication networks, either wired or wireless. For example,the network connection 504 may connect the online authenticationplatform to the payment platform, so that a user may completetransactions seamlessly.

In addition, the processor 501 may execute the application programsstored in storage medium 505 to implement online authenticationfunctions. The server of the authentication platform may collect facialdata from a user through user interface 503. The server may compare thecollected facial data with the facial data associated with the useraccount. The server may use the user interface 503 to prompt the user toenter data for the purchase order if the collected facial data match thefacial data associated with the user account. The server may use theuser interface 503 to receive the purchase order data. The purchaseorder data may include a payment account number and a payment amount.The server may use the network connection 504 to send the purchase orderdata to the payment platform. The payment platform may then make thepayment based on the purchase order data.

Further, the server may, through the user interface 503, prompt the userto enter fingerprint data after determining that the collected facialdata match the facial data associated with the user account. The userinterface 503 may then receive the fingerprint data. The server may thencompare the collected fingerprint data to the fingerprint dataassociated with the user account. If the fingerprint data match, thenthe server, through the user interface 503, may prompt the user to enterdata for the purchase order.

In addition, the server of the authentication platform shown in FIG. 5may receive a request for a user registration through user interface503. In response to the request for registration, the server maygenerate and assign a user account to the user. The server may store, instorage medium 505, the data associating the biometric data collectedthrough user interface 503, such as the facial data, the finger printdata, etc., with the user's account. Thereafter, the user interface 503may send a message to the user indicating the registration is complete.

Moreover, the server of the authentication platform shown in FIG. 5 maysend the purchase order data through the network connection 504 to thepayment platform. The server may obtain the past payments of the useraccount. The server may determine a discount for the past payment totalamount. The server may send the discount data through the networkconnection 504 to the payment platform so that the payment platform mayapply the discount to the payment.

As shown in FIG. 5, embodiments consistent with the present disclosuremay simplify the process for entering user account number and performthe online payment operations. Further, embodiments consistent with thepresent disclosure may be used in stores, shopping malls, andrecreational centers that do not have staff for authenticating customersor receiving payments. Embodiments consistent with the presentdisclosure may relieve staff from manually receiving purchase orders andmaking payments. Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure maythus improve user experience for online purchases.

FIG. 6 is another schematic diagram of a system for onlineauthentication and payment consistent with the present disclosure. Asshown in FIG. 6, the system for online authentication and payment mayinclude an online authentication platform 601, a payment platform 602.The authentication platform 601 and payment platform 602 may beconnected by a network.

The authentication platform 601 may collect facial data from a user. Theauthentication platform 601 may compare the collected facial data withthe facial data associated with the user account. The authenticationplatform 601 may prompt the user to enter data for the purchase order ifthe collected facial data match the facial data associated with the useraccount. The authentication platform 601 may receive the purchase orderdata. The purchase order data may include a payment account number and apayment amount. The authentication platform 601 may send the purchaseorder data to the payment platform 602 through the network. The paymentplatform 602 may then make the payment based on the purchase order data.

Further, the authentication platform 601 may prompt the user to enterfingerprint data after determining that the collected facial data matchthe facial data associated with the user account. The authenticationplatform 601 may then receive the fingerprint data. The authenticationplatform 601 may then compare the collected fingerprint data to thefingerprint data associated with the user account. If the fingerprintdata match, then the authentication platform 601 may prompt the user toenter data for the purchase order.

In addition, the authentication platform 601 shown in FIG. 6 may receivea request for a user registration. In response to the request forregistration, the authentication platform 601 may generate and assign auser account to the user. The authentication platform 601 may store thedata associating the biometric data collected from the user, such as thefacial data, the fingerprint data, etc., with the user's account.Thereafter, the authentication platform 601 may send a message to theuser indicating the registration is complete.

Moreover, the authentication platform 601 shown in FIG. 6 may send thepurchase order data through the network to the payment platform 602. Theauthentication platform 601 may obtain the past payments of the useraccount. The authentication platform 601 may determine a discount forthe past payment total amount. The authentication platform 601 may sendthe discount data through the network to the payment platform 602 sothat the payment platform 602 may apply the discount to the payment.

As shown in FIG. 6, embodiments consistent with the present disclosuremay simplify the process for entering user account number and performthe online payment operations. Further, embodiments consistent with thepresent disclosure may be used in stores, shopping malls, andrecreational centers that do not have staff for authenticating customersor receiving payments. Embodiments consistent with the presentdisclosure may relieve staff from manually receiving purchase orders andmaking payments. Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure maythus improve user experience for online purchases.

Consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure, one or morenon-transitory storage medium storing a computer program are provided toimplement the system and method for sending and receiving alerts. Theone or more non-transitory storage medium may be installed in a computeror provided separately from a computer. A computer may read the computerprogram from the storage medium and execute the program to perform themethods consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure. Thestorage medium may be a magnetic storage medium, such as hard disk,floppy disk, or other magnetic disks, a tape, or a cassette tape. Thestorage medium may also be an optical storage medium, such as opticaldisk (for example, CD or DVD). The storage medium may further besemiconductor storage medium, such as DRAM, SRAM, EPROM, EEPROM, flashmemory, or memory stick.

Other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from consideration of the specification and practice of theinvention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification andexamples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spiritof the invention being indicated by the claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY AND ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

Without limiting the scope of any claim and/or the specification,examples of industrial applicability and certain advantageous effects ofthe disclosed embodiments are listed for illustrative purposes. Variousalternations, modifications, or equivalents to the technical solutionsof the disclosed embodiments can be obvious to those skilled in the artand can be included in this disclosure.

By using the disclosed methods and systems, various systems for onlinetransactions may be implemented. For example, users in an instantmessaging session may use an online authentication platform to purchaseservices and/or products. The authentication platform may have a userinterface through the instant messaging session. The device hosting theinstant messaging session may include a camera, a touch pad, or othercommunication modules. The online authentication platform may collectbiometric data, such as facial data, fingerprint data, iris image data,when a user engages the online authentication system. The onlineauthentication platform may then authenticate the user based on thecollected biometric data. Once the authentication platform hasauthenticated the user, it may prompt the user to enter data for anonline transaction. The online transaction may be purchasing one or moreproducts or services, submitting documents, making payments, etc. Theauthentication platform may be connected to a payment platform or otherplatforms, such as an information-sharing portal, a social network site,etc. An exemplary instant messaging system may be Tencent's WeChatsystem. The instant messaging session may be hosted on any type ofcomputing devices, including laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.

By authenticating users and enabling business transactions online, thesystem for online authentication and payment consistent with the presentdisclosure provides users with an enriched user experience.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for online authentication and payment, comprising: collecting facial data of a user in real time, the user being associated with a user account; comparing the collected facial data with facial data associated with the user account; receiving data related to a purchase order, the purchase order data including a payment account number and a payment amount; sending the purchase order data to a payment module; and receiving data indicating that the payment module has made a payment based on the purchase order data.
 2. The method according to claim 1, the method further comprising: prompting the user to provide fingerprint data; receiving the fingerprint data; and comparing the fingerprint data with fingerprint data associated with the user account.
 3. The method according to claim 2, the method further comprising: receiving a request for registration from the user; receiving facial data and fingerprint data from the user; generating the user account for the user; associating the received facial data with the user account; associating the received fingerprint data with the user account; and sending a message to the user indicating the registration is complete.
 4. The method according to claim 3, the method further comprising: obtaining past payment amounts of the user account; determining a discount rate based on the past payment amounts; and sending the discount rate to the payment module for making the payment.
 5. A method for online authentication and payment, comprising: collecting facial data of a user in real time, the user being associated with a user account; comparing the collected facial data with facial data associated with the user account; receiving data related to a purchase order, the purchase order data including a payment account number and a payment amount; and making a payment based on the purchase order data.
 6. The method according to claim 5, the method further comprising: prompting the user to provide fingerprint data; receiving the fingerprint data; and comparing the fingerprint data with fingerprint data associated with the user account.
 7. The method according to claim 6, the method further comprising: receiving a request for registration from the user; receiving facial data and fingerprint data from the user; generating the user account for the user; associating the received facial data with the user account; associating the received fingerprint data with the user account; and sending a message to the user indicating the registration is complete.
 8. The method according to claim 7, the method further comprising: obtaining past payment amounts of the user account; determining a discount rate based on the past payment amounts; and making the payment based on the discount rate.
 9. A system for online authentication and payment, comprising: an authentication module configured to collect facial data of a user in real time, the user being associated with a user account; to compare the collected facial data with facial data associated with the user account; to receive data related to a purchase order, the purchase order data including a payment account number and a payment amount; and to send the purchase order data; and a payment module configured to receive the purchase order data and make a payment based on the purchase order data.
 10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the authentication module is further configured to prompt the user to provide fingerprint data; to receive the fingerprint data; and to compare the fingerprint data with fingerprint data associated with the user account.
 11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the authentication module is further configured to receive a request for registration from the user; to receive facial data and fingerprint data from the user; to generate the user account for the user; to associate the facial data with the user account; to associate the fingerprint data with the user account; and to send a message to the user indicating the registration is complete.
 12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the authentication module is further configured to obtain past payment amounts of the user account; and to determine a discount rate based on the past payment amounts.
 13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the payment module is further configured to make the payment based on the discount rate.
 14. An online authentication platform facilitating online authentication and payment, comprising: a collection unit configured to collect facial data of a user in real time, the user being associated with a user account; a comparing unit configured to compare the collected facial data with facial data associated with the user account; a receiving unit configured to receive data related to a purchase order, the purchase order data including a payment account number and a payment amount; and a sending unit configured to send the purchase order data to a payment platform.
 15. The online authentication platform according to claim 14, further comprising: a prompting unit configured to prompt the user to provide fingerprint data; wherein the receiving unit is further configured to receive the fingerprint data.
 16. The online authentication platform according to claim 15, wherein the comparing unit is further configured to compare the fingerprint data with fingerprint data associated with the user account.
 17. The online authentication platform according to claim 16, wherein the receiving unit is further configured to receive a request for registration from the user and to receive facial data and fingerprint data from the user.
 18. The online authentication platform according to claim 17, further comprising: an assigning unit configured to assign the user account to the user; wherein the assigning unit is further configured to associate the received facial data with the user account and the received fingerprint data with the user account.
 19. The online authentication platform according to claim 18, wherein the sending unit is further configured to send a message to the user indicating the registration is complete.
 20. The online authentication platform according to claim 19, further comprising: an obtaining unit configured to obtain past payment amounts of the user account; and a recognition unit configured to determine a discount rate based on the past payment amounts; wherein the payment platform makes the payment based on the discount rate. 